Soil alkalinity imposes important limitations to lupin productivity; however, little attention has been paid to investigate the effects of soil alkalinity on plant growth and development. Many lupins are sensitive to alkaline soils, but Lupinus albus material from Egypt was found to have tolerance to limed soils. The aim of this study was to compare the growth response of two cultivars of L.albus L. – an Egyptian cultivar, P27734, and an Australian cultivar, Kiev Mutant, to different soil pH levels and to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying agronomic alkalinity tolerance of P27734. Plants were grown under three pH levels (5.1, 6.7, and 7.8) in a temperature-controlled glasshouse. For both cultivars, the greatest dry mass production and carboxylate exudation from roots were observed at alkaline pH. The better performance of the Egyptian cultivar at high pH was entirely accounted for by its greater seed weight. From a physiological perspective, the Australian cultivar was as alkaline-tolerant as the Egyptian cultivar. These findings highlight the agronomic importance of seed weight for sowing, and both cultivars can be used in alkaline soils.

During the maturation of dicotyledonous seeds, organic carbon, nitrogen and sulphur are stored in protein storage vacuoles (PSVs) as storage globulins. Several studies point to the coexistence of storage proteins with proteases responsible for their degradation inside PSVs. Different mechanisms have been proposed to explain why there is no proteolysis during this period. Protein aggregation to form large supramolecular structures resistant to proteolytic attack could be the reason. However, during germination, and particularly following its completion, the globulin aggregates must undergo disintegration to allow protease attack for protein reserve mobilization. Based on the well-described concentration-dependent ability of Ca2+ and Mg2+ to promote in vitro aggregation and disaggregation of globulins, we explored a possible role for these alkaline earth cations in globulin packaging and mobilization. Ca2+ and Mg2+ measurements in purified PSVs [6.37 μmol and 43.9 μmol g− 1 dry weight (DW) of cotyledons, respectively] showed the presence of these two alkaline earth cations within this compartment. To our knowledge, this is the first time that Ca2+ and Mg2+ have been quantified in purified PSVs from Lupinus albus seeds. Considering the importance of these two alkaline earth cations inside PSVs, which represent 14.6% and 60.7% of the total seed Mg2+and Ca2+, respectively, globulin aggregation and disaggregation profiles were assayed using experimental conditions closer to those that are physiologically present (proportion of Ca2+ and Mg2+, and acidic pH). Based on: (1) the high in vivo abundance of Ca2+ and Mg2+ inside PSVs; and (2) globulin aggregation and disaggregation profiles, together with structural and physiological evidence already reported in the literature, an important physiological role for Ca2+ and Mg2+ in globulin packaging and mobilization inside PSVs is suggested.

The biological activities of a protein isolate from lupin (Lupinus albus) were studied in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis. Focal plaque development was induced at both common carotid arteries by perivascular injury. After surgery, animals were fed three different diets for 90 d, all with 1 % cholesterol, 15 % SFA and 20 % protein; the protein source was casein (CAS), lupin proteins (LUP) or 50 % CAS+50 % LUP (CAS+LUP). Lower cholesterolaemia was detected in the LUP v. the CAS group at 60 and 90 d of treatment ( − 40·3 and − 33·5 %, respectively; P < 0·05). Cryosection analyses of the carotids indicated a significant reduction in focal lesion progression in the LUP v. the CAS group ( − 37·4 %; P < 0·05). In summary, in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis, a protein isolate from L. albus reduced cholesterolaemia and exerted a remarkable protective activity against atherosclerosis progression.